The Steinbach Mines

In the heart of a dense forest, the Silberthal valley hides a rich mining history. Between the 13th and 20th centuries, nearly 200 operations extracted iron and lead within an area of just 3 km². The Steinbach valley, in particular, experienced various fortunes before permanently closing its galleries in 1905. Today, three iconic sites – the Saint-Nicolas mine, the Donnerloch mine, and the Erzenbach mines – offer visitors a dive into over a thousand years of silver-lead mining. These places showcase miners' techniques, their daily lives, and the challenges posed by extraction in a natural environment. To facilitate exploration, three discovery routes have been set up, marked with explanatory panels. They allow visitors to explore the remains of the galleries, the man-shaped landscapes, and the region's geological riches.